Cable grip



QCt- 28, 1952 E. T. CHAMBERLAIN, JR 2,615,402

CABLE GRIP v Filed July 11, 1,951

Patented Oct. 28, 1952y l CABLE GRIP Eclw'ardvT.` Chamberlain, Jr.,Hanover,l\l. 4H. y y Application July 11, 1951, Serial N0. 236,250 l Y 6claims. (o1. 1011-202) This invention relates to cable grips and hasbeen developed more particularly to meetr the requirements andconditions presented to a skier in gripping and releasing the cable of aski tow. Such mechanism must be capable of a rm grip and be easily andquickly releasable, must be lunaffected in itsy operationv by thepresence of snow or ice, must not injure the tow rope or cable, and mustbe capable of withstanding considerable ,stressy -and abuse.

-f To these ends the gripping-effort upon, the tow .rope or cable isproduced, in accordance .with

this invention, preferably, `by a plurality of ,rope loops arrangedtogrip the cable, and the more .tenaciously theheavier the stressexerted thereon, the loops beingcarried by a pair of blocks maintainedvin lassembled relation during use but readily disconnected when desiredto release the grip. by opening-the loops. D

For a complete understanding of this i vention, reference may be hadtothe accompanying drawings in which :Figure l is atop plan viewof agripembodying the invention, shown in gripping positionand connected toa belttobeworn by a skier.

, Figure 2 is a sideelevation partly broken away Figure 6 is'a viewsimilar to Figure 1., but-show;-

'Figure .18.is asectional view similar to FigureY perforations 3 and 4,when the blocks arel in the superposed relationship. shown ,in Figures1', y2 and 3, being substantially parallel to .each other. Between theblocks 2jandv 4 there is left lengths of strand material at6 veach ofwhich may form a loopengaging substantially entirely around the' towcableor rope 1 as shown in .Figure 3, or. by displacing the blockl vintothe positionjshownin Figure 4, the cable may be released .from 'thestrand -materiaLthe loops then being open.'V In gripping position the`block 2`loverlies the block rI as shown in 4Figures 2 and 3 and when theblocks I and 2 arel held in thispositiomthe cable may be gripped-bytightening the loops 6 therearound.V Y

vThe intermediate portion 8 v`ofbeach rocked .downwardly into the fullline position' shown in Figure2and be retained in s'uc'zhposition. InFigures 1, 2 and 5 it will be seen thatthe free endv ofthe locking barI5 can enter-'a slot 20. in-a'portion 2| upstanding from' the block?! 'I.-'L'but showing the grip parts released'fromtthe f cable.. .Y

Referring rst to the construction rshownin ,Figuresl to' 5, at I and l2vare shown'a pairof blocks; :One of these blocks, as2,"has,a seriesl andwhen itfhas lso entered, it overlie's` the block V2 and prevents it fromVbeing Alifted out :of `posi-"- tionin such a way as to open uptheloopsll.' .1 Meansfor releasably holding the retaining -bar I5in'lo'ckingposition comprises the hingedflatch block '2. .froml -.thespace. between the member'sff.IfI

and 2 I, one end of the recess formed thereby and into which the. block2 engages 'may.,b'e}.formed sharply beveled as-.at12-5. .The inner.edges offnthe blocks I and 2v where they. make contact with'the loopsyare. arranged concaved as. shown; `the cons Cavity 2l of the' block I;l'extending lforathcrfull iengtngtnereo.: andrthrough the lower:portions f of the parts I 'L ,andfzzl :andsthe fblockz Zzis: 'pr'ovidedwithfafzmatinggroove .28: 'Both/portions the gripping strands with thering 9 tends to y equalize the pull exerted by the two loops 6 of eachstrand. As shown there are four strands,

each one having two loops passing about the cable 'I andthe'intermediate lportion of each engaging around the ring 9 so that thepressure is substantially equalized between the loops ofthe same strandand between the loops of the -two strands which have been shown herein.vIt is, of course, evident that morev or less than' four loops could-.beemployed where found desirable.

l'nfoperation. the skier. associates the blocks around the :cable 'l byplacing theblock 2 in Aproper. positionon thev block I with the variousstrand'loo-psengaging about .the ski tow` `cable 'and' while insuchposition .the `latch .bar l'5 is Y.broughtdovv.:o..into position.toprevent the lifting of -theblock 2V and the release latch 22 is pushedthereoverinto vthe full .linerposition shown in l Figure' 2. =..'Ihe.gripper is nowgripping the tow calble and the load impar-ted thereto bythev drag of l'the. 'wearer'of thebelt Il acts to tighten .the strandsabout. the tow cable, ,the greater. the -i pull or lag of the skier, thegreater being .thetenacity .osthe grip exerted onfthe towrope: or cable.by the. vstrand loops 6. Whenythef skier desires. to detach himself fromthecable; itis only ynecessary'for. him to release thellatchj22, ,movingit from the full to the dottedlinepositionofFigure 2;. lThisl releasesthev bar" I'5 andfpermits the bloclcfZetodrop out of its superposedrelationto thehlock l -as showninligure 4'.. whereupon all grippingon'the cable." is released.

yInfFigures'G to 8v amodiicationisrshown' in Y which,` the strands..which grip th-e cablesare: ar-` ranged 'independentlyy of. each other,one such strand. having a yknotted end portion 5 which anchors thestrands' in one ofthe blocks, theA intermediate :portion ofthe strandpassingthrough thesperforatioir in the other block and itself. beinganchored in.- a. third block 30, as. by; thenknots 3 hat 'the oppositeends. of thel strandswhich pass through thejperforations 32 in the,block .36.

With this'arran'gement the pull onthepblock 30, y

by reason-of its ring; connection. at 33.fw-ith, .the skier'sf belt,;will, cause each of the strand-f.` materials to take. itsownaloadwithoutmuclrreference' .tofthe proportions. taken by the. other strands..A 2 IIn theseviews, also, a different typezcf'locking mechanism to retain theblocksfin -`gripping 'po-f sitionis illustrated; As there shown. the:lower block la through which the strand slidably `Apasses is providedwith uprightend portions .I6a .and'f2ll a; each having f'xed. therein;aescrew eye 13.5:y .Af.:.locking..pin; 3.611 having a; hand grip 31 atonesendrmayebe :inserted through theeye'sof. the screw eyes .35:.fandact as"a.:keyjto prevent. the :block Zat-from' being .pulled away fromthe lockingiposition shown in 'Figure 7 to release position shown inFigure; .Y The third block- 30A which is vtheloops.'Sasabout the cable.so.` long .as the key member 36 is in the position sho-wn in Figure 6.

By pulling this member 36 out from the screw and modifications maybemadewithout departy ing from its spirit or scope.=

I claim: 1. A cable grip comprising a pair of blocks,

' a strand having one end portion fixed to one of v said blocks andextending slidingly through the Y other of said blocks and presenting aloop between `said blocks adapted to partly enclose and grip a. cablewhen said blocks are in predetermined relation to each other, meansengaging said stranden the opposite side of said other block from saidloop for exerting a pull thereon to draw said loop about and grip saidcable. thereby when saidblocksv are in said predetermined relation, `andmeans for releasably holding said blocks in said predetermined relation.

2. A cable grip comprising a pair of blocks, a strand havingv one endportion xed yto oneiof said blocks and extendingslidingly through theother of said blocks and presenting a loop between said blocks` adaptedto partlyenclose and. grip a cable when said blocks are in predeterminedrelation to each other, means'lengaging said' strand on theoppositesideof said other block from said loop for exerting a pull thereon todraw said loop about andgrip said cable thereby when said blocks are insaid predetermined relation. and means for releasably holdingsaidablocksfin said predetermined relation,.said blocks .having recessedside faces with which said loop mayA engage when said blocksy are in.said predetermined relation.A

3. A -cable grip comprising a. pair. of blocks. a plurality of strandseach having one endfportion anchored in one of said blocks. andhavngan'. intermediate portion slidable relative` to the other of saidblocks, means for releasably holding said blocks in face to facerelation withy `the strands between said blocks forming loops .which mayengage around a tow cable,.a third block to which the other end portionsof said strands-y are engaged, the means for securing the saidthirdblock to an article ofwearing apparel.. .f I

4. A cable grip comprising ajpair of blocks, a strand having an endportion anchored. in one of said blocks and havingxanl intermediate:pora strand. having anjend portion anchoredin one of saidlblocks andhaving an'intermedia'te portion slidably carried' bythe otherofsaidblocks', one .of said blocks havingmeans for'locating the other of saidblocks zin endwise superposed'rela'- wtion thereto with said strandforming a loop between said blocks. adapted. to'enclose andwgripa'cable, one of said blocks having albarfpivoted at one end thereto and`adapted to overl'ieiland retain the other of. said blocks in saidrelation,

'a' latch. member pivote'd' to said one blocklforreof said blocks beinglongervthan the other and having a pair of eye members spaced to permitthe other of said blocks to pass therebetween,l a key removably engagedin the eyes of said eye members and holding said other block againstsaid one block in said relation, vand means for tightening said loopabout the cable. Y

EDWARD T. CHAMBERLAIN, JR.

No references cited.

